Item 0476 - Regina sine labe originali concepta, ora pro nobis

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The image depicts Our Lady At the top, one finds the back and front of a medallion held with a pink ribbon, dedicated to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. This medal came into being after the Blessed Virgin Mary, on 27 November 1830, appeared to the future Saint Catherine Labouré, a young nun of the congregation of the daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul in Paris. During a second apparition the Virgin entrusted the nun with the forge of this medal, wherein Mary’s feet were upon a half-globe during the apparition, symbolising the Earth, and were crushing a green and yellow snake’s head. The front image of the Miraculous Medal shows the Blessed Virgin Mary crushing the Snake‘s head, as quoted in the Bible (“And I will put enmity between you and the woman […] he will crush your head and you will strike his heel”, Gen 3,15). Rays of light shoot out from Her hands, symbols of the graces granted by God, and the invocation “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us.” On the reverse side of the Miraculous Medal has the letter 'M' for Mary supporting the Cross without crucifix. The monogram 'I' for Jesus (Iesus) intersects the 'M' and the Cross. The crowned heart with thorns represents the Sacred Heart of Jesus, while the heart pierced by a sword represents the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The twelve stars symbolise the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles. This image is a memento commemorating the laying and blessing of the foundation stone by Archbishop Michael Gonzi of the Chapel at the M.U.S.E.U.M. Headquarters in Blata l-Bajda, which is dedicated to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Overleaf, at the top one finds the motto of the Society of Christian Doctrine (M.U.S.E.U.M.) - "The Word became flesh" and beneath it it's coat of arms.

• Maltese